Open DKB bank account with instructions

11.1.2015

Do you want to open the DKB account, but you are still not aware of all the details? Let us guide you through the process of account opening (Kontoeröffnung). Picture by picture, you will find the steps to open an account.

The DKB account is permanently free of charge!

Since the application on account opening is only provided in German language by the bank, we have translated the input fields and the main points that you have to tick. At the end of the article, you have the opportunity to ask questions on the DKB account opening. We would be glad to help you.

Step 1: Opening the Online Application

Step 2: Filling in the Online Application Form

Here, we have completely shown the application on account opening of the DKB bank account:

Note: Input data about the person as stated on the ID card or passport.

Note: If you have a dual citizenship (doppelte Staatsangehörigkeit), you have to decide on one.

Note: The address must be the one that is stated on your ID card or official proof (registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)). The bank cards will be sent to this address. Later, you can change the banking address online by yourself.

Note: To apply for the VISA credit card and the amount of the credit line (Kreditrahmen), the information on occupation and income are important. Salary slips are usually not required.The net income is the transfer amount of the income plus additional income that may incur, like a side job, annuities, capital gains, renting, etc.Not in all, but in some professions, a new field with details on the industry will open:

Note: The bank wants to know in which industry you are currently employed and since when.

Note: If you want to create an account together with someone (joint account(Gemein­schafts­konto)), then set the pre-selection to JA (yes) and enter a second account holder (Kontoinhaber).

Click on weiter (continue), to go to the next page:

Note: In order for the DKB to process your account opening request, the setting of some check marks is necessary.

Click on weiter (continue), to go to the last page:

Note: In the upper part, you check whether your data has been adopted correctly.• Then click on Antrag speichern (Save request)• Then the account application will open with all contract details (you do not need to print it, as it is only an information for you)• Now you can tick the box at Kontoeröffnung bestätigen (confirm account opening) and then click on the button eröffnen (open)• That´s it!

The PDF account application will open as soon as you click on Antrag speichern (Save request)

Note: The application does not have to be printed.

What`s next?

You have finished the application on opening the DKB account!

All data was transmitted electronically to the bank. In the next few hours/days, the staff – supported by computer systems – will check the application and inform you via e-mail.

Submitting documents, such as payslips, is not necessary in most cases. Similarly, the account application does not have to be printed and sent with your signature to the bank. The account opening request is valid without a signature. You have confirmed your intentions by clicking on the button. The opening of the DKB account is possible paperless.

The e-mail of the DKB includes the prompt for legitimating (ID check) and proposes one or more options depending on your place of residence. The common methods are the PostIdent or via WebCam. If you live outside Germany, the identification form (via bank, notary, lawyer) is still partially accepted.

143 Responses to “Open DKB bank account with instructions”

I’m an Australian (citizen), currently in Berlin (tourist visa). Once I had an account with PostBank, but they (the bank) closed that account in 2006, but I still have the SparCard that came with the account. I only had a few hundred euro in it that I withdrew in 2010. I’m mentioning this as it might help my case?

I would like to open an account is that possible? Given my bank history..? Or does it matter?

In case Postbank, you have to ask this bank. Our editorial office can’t help, because we don’t work at this bank.

How long do you stay in Germany with your tourist visa? Current you need as Australian citizen an address in Germany where you can get the post from DKB (PINs, Cards). The Bank will make a credit inquiry on this address and get in your case little or no information. That is not so good for a successful account opening. Because the DKB account is with a line of credit.

Maybe an account without credit line is also okay for you? A saving account is usually for free. But you can do a lot with that. We can recommend another current account with easy opening procedure for foreign people, who visit German … but you have to pay a fee monthly. Interesting?

You can try open DKB account first, you know DKB is one of the best German banks!

Hi, I’ve tried a few times to open a DKB account as instructed here, but every time I get a message saying I am not eligible. Seems to suggest that you have to be resident in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. I am from UK. Any suggestions?

It is correct that account openings from the UK were pretty easy until the 30th of June 2014. However, no account openings from Great Britain are currently possible. We really hope that this will change soon again and we will report about this on our web-portal.

What are the requirements for the account? Maybe we can recommend an alternative …

PS: If one has a German or Austrian passport, he/she can apply for the DKB-account from any place of the world, as these passports can be used for legitimating through video chat.

I have been in touch with ComDirect who are very helpful and appear to offer a suitable account. Opening an account is not simple however – the identity form needs to be stamped by the Notary Public and them certified by an Apostille service. Total cost probably more than €150. Hmmm.

Thanks for response, and sorry that DKB have changed their policy.
I am looking for a Euro account as I am working in quite a few European countries these days, with a debit or cashcard for use at ATMs. Also a linked deposit account for savings of around €60,000 which ideally pays a little interest (but probably less than 1%).

Earlier this year, a new provider started with a bank account optimized for smartphones (number26). The current account is free, the Mastercard too and even withdrawing cash from the ATMs.

2 Challenges

currently, you can pre-register for the account and you have to wait for an invitation to open the account. This is to channel the onslaught of customers. You can pre-register here: http://number26.de

up to now, the MasterCard can only be sent to an address in Germany or Austria. Therefore, it is officially said that only account openings for customers from these countries can be performed. But this will change in the course of the year. We have been talking about this by phone with someone from the executive of Number26.

The other alternative would be opening a savings account and depositing Euros 60,000. Maybe in 3 monthly installments to show the bank that you are a “good” customer.

I am a Doctoral student/employee at TU Dresden and I failed to open a DKB bank account. It says I am not eligible but doesn’t say why. I earn more than 1000 euros per month and currently live in Germany. Any advices would be appreciated

Why is it so difficult to open a German bank account, at a time when the European Union says that all EU citizens should not be discriminated against simply because of nationality or residence within the EU?

To open a current account over internet is not comparably with buy some shoes in online shop. We have experience with over 100 banks in 15 countries and so we can say: Germany is a good country for open a bank account and it is here easier as in many other countries.

This question is not easy to answer, because it depends on the individual case (the personal circumstances and the country). It would be easier to make a list of banks that have the requirement of a residence in Germany.

The easiest way as a non-resident is to visit a branch office of the Deutsche Bank and to open an account there. The Deutsche Bank earns Money through the account management fees, so it is more willing to open an account. Additionally, the online banking is also available in English. This is usually not common in German banks.

I am Croatian (EU) living in Germany from September 2014 and passed my Probeziet having net salary around 2k. However, I have been denied to open the DKB account even though I have Meldebescheinigung. May ypi please let me know is there any chance to open DKB account or not? Thank you in advance

You can try it, but i guess the chance is very low. For swiss people in Switzerland, it is possible. For German citizens abroad also no problem. But what is good reason to open a free account for a foreigner in another country … from the perspective of the DKB! The bank don’t will do this.

Hi can you help,
I have set the account up, finaly got the skype call to go through (it rang out 10 times over the last few days with no answer) and now…. what ? Am I waiting for the bank to send me a pin ?
I cant log in because I dont have a pin no.
I need the bank account up and running I have bills to pay.
what do I need to do ?
Thanks Martin

My name is Rob, and am interested in moving some money over to a good German Bank because it is more reliable than in the U.S. I used to live in Neuss, and in Dusseldorf for a while with my Oma and Opa. However they passed away and are laid to rest in Germany. I do have one distant cousin in Koln, But I’m not sure he would help me with this matter…. and I would like to keep my financial info private.

I am a U.S. Citizen, and never bothered to Apply for Dual citizenship. Is it possible to open an account from within the US? Do I need to go back over there? What loopholes are there being a U.S. Citizen?

I am a US citizen living in Germany with a German address & Anmeldung. However, I can’t get an account either. It will only let me register if I check the box that says my visa is unlimited (mine is currently 2 years). Does that mean I can’t get an account either? Thanks!

Best is to carify the details of the account opening with the bank. As a special portal, we know that several hundred US citizens are customers of that bank. However, we know of cases, in which the account opening was not possible.

The address is important to perform the creditworthiness check. You chose a bank, the DKB, that sets up a credit line by default and thus checks the customer more in detail than banks that only offer a credit account.

Thanks for your response! I don’t think it was the address that they were concerned with–it seems to be the length of my residence visa. When I tell the system that my visa is limited, I get this message “Ein zweiter Antragsteller kann sich positiv auf die Entscheidung Ihres Antrages auswirken.”

So if I understand correctly, I can get a second person to verify my account. How do I do this and what type of second person can I get to verify me? Unfortunately I am not married to a German citizen and I am a Freiberuflerin.

Hello
Which documents exactly do I have to bring to Post Office for identification, besides Postldent-Coupon and personal document?
I have seen online that I have to bring PDF file that was created during my online application, but that file has 88 pages. Do I have to bring all of those papers printed?

Hi there.
This is a great article and the account looks great, I do wish I saw it earlier.
I have a question regarding the application.
I am British, working and living in Germany for the last 3 years. However I also own a flat which I rent out in the UK. Before changing the nationality to English it mentions the following:
Ich bin ausschliesslich in Deutschland steuerlich ansässig und besitze nur die deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit (keine doppelte Staatsangehörigkeit).

When I change the nationality to British, it is asking for a tax ID. Which tax ID do I enter. Should I enter both the uk and German tax ID?

Hi, thanks for the helpful article. I’m British and just moved to Berlin. Yesterday I completed the form online and the ID process via Webcam. Any idea how long it usually takes for a decision to be made? I need to start flat hunting asap. Thanks!

Hi! Sometimes it takes a few hours, sometimes a few days, depending on how much there is to do. Since the welcome papers are sent by regular mail, you might have to add 1-2 days to that time. There will be several letters arriving at different times, with each the cards and the PINs.

Hi, this website and thread make very interesting reading but I can’t quite work out the action needed to open a simple German current account.
I’m helping my English student daughter to open a German bank account as she is working/ doing her placement year in Leipzig from October 2016. She needs a simple basic current account to pay say 600 euros per month into and then draw rent money etc. DKB looks a good option but I am worried she will not be able to complete the application process completely from her English domicile.
Can anyone give any advice on this issue please?
Thank you and kind regards
Philip
P

Ok that’s clear thank you. Are you aware of any other options with other banks please? There may be no alternative but to book a cheap flight and visit Leipzig to conclude all clerical actions but this will add to cost that, as a student, she would struggle to afford.
We appreciate your help and timely response.
Philip

I moved to Germany 2 months ago with blue Card and I opened an account with VR Bank. When I asked for a credit Card, the answer was negative because i don´t have “a permanent residence Permit” despite its availibilty until 2019.
I´m wondering if DKB will accept to open an account for me and give me the Visa Card since I didn´t reach 6 months yet for the SCHUFA Evaluation.

In any case, is there any other recommendation for a bank account in my case with a fixed monthly income?

neither we as a web portal nor the bank can say that in advance. The decision regarding your credit Card is done by the bank, once she has all information regarding the applicant. The application for a bank account as such is without risk – you cannot not lose anything, only win. Good luck! 🙂

Thank you for your answer. I will probably apply for DKB as I have nothing to lose like you said 🙂

Just a Little update about VR Bank, I really don´t appreciate their lack of transparency… Because I´ve asked for a prepaid credit Card, the Consultant denied having such offer, when I sent the link of the Card published on their own Website, the answer changed to: “Yes, we have that Card published, but it is not possible for now, please contact us after 2-3 months”.

Hello,
Thank you for this article.
I went to the post for the post identification. At the end the clerck refused to include the coupon that DKB sent me via e-mail. Despite my remark she insisted that it is not needed and did not include it.
Is this normal specially that it contains the reference number of the application?
Thank you.

no worries, the post office clerk did it correctly. The coupon the bank has sent you is basically only the “admission ticket” for you, and it tells the post office that the DKB is paying for the cost of the identification process.

I didn’t receive any feedback yet from DKB and I’m afraid I did a huge mistake… In fact I applied twice: The first time I made a mistake when writing the place of birth. So I didn’t know what to do and I applied a second time.
Basically I ended up with two emails with two coupons but different references. And I don’t know if DKB will know the reference of the correct application and proceed it or they will just reject both when they receive the identification documents.

A quick feedback, at my surprise, the application was rejected. Yet, I’ve sent them all the needed documents that they might ask for:
– Copy of working contract (Unlimited)
– Residence permit (Valid 3 years and half)
– A payroll
– Abmeldung

I can’t really understand and I don’t know what I am missing for a successful application at the DKB…

Thank you for the answer, yes I know about Comdirect but ready your articles convinced me that DBK is the best bank around Germany.
I have a question if you don´t mind: With the PostId I used my foreign passport, do you think it would Change anything if I use my residence Permit as an identification document? (after all, it is an official German document)
Thank you.

A residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is no identification document. One always has to submit an identity card (ID card) or passport. The type of document does not affect the examination of the bank, whether an account can be opened or not. It is a pity that it did not work. I wish you good luck with another bank or at a later point of time.

Hello, I am an Israeli citizen with Romanian citizenship (=european) and I need a european account in order to receive money I earn from online trading I do.

Is it possible to open an account in DKB, without having to leave my country? Can it be opened and managed completely from abroad?
Are there any minimum requirements in terms of amount of money necessary?
Does such an account carry any commissions (specifically on money transfers to Israeli banks?)

If not, can someone recommend on other banks (european, UK, or others)?

I’m in Australian that is living and working in Berlin, with a working visa and a residence permit (Anmeldung). I applied for a DKB account online and went through the webID verification process and had my identity verified. This was almost two weeks ago.

Should I have expected to receive any email confirmation from DKB regarding when my cards and account details will arrive by mail etc.? Also, when would this stuff get posted?

If you have not heard from DKB for a while, that is actually a good sign. The welcome mail as well as the cards are sent by regular “snail mail”, and to Australia, that’s a long way. DKB hardly opens any free accounts for foreign citizens living abroad anymore. That is hardly a business model for a bank – other than maybe for the purpose of investments of assets ;-).

Hello! I successfully opened a DKB account yesterday, and verified everything, but I haven’t heard anything from the bank. Do you know how long do the cards and the rest of the information take to be sent? And when will I have my credit card?
I also wanted to thank you, since without this website I wouldn’t have been able to open it!

Dear madam, dear sir,
we have just now opened your DKB-Cash.
You will receive all information und papers relevant for using the account (e.g. account number or cards) within the following days per mail.
We will gladly be your contact for any questions.
When replying to this email, please to not change the subject heading.
Kind regards,
your DKB

Within Germany, the first letter arrives within 2-3 days. For security reasons, further letters with access information, cards and PINs will be sent separately and at different times.

Does this help? I wish you much enjoyment while exploring the new possibilities!

Hello!
I have the same problem as I applied for a DKB account (with a German address) and completed the WebID check successfully, but since then haven’t heard a single thing from DKB – not even an email. I sent them 2 emails asking about the next steps to open the account, but got no responses. Is that normal?
And thanks so much for having such a helpful and informative website and support!!

This is of course not how it is supposed to be. Generally, the welcome letters should come within a few days, and the e-mail even much sooner.

We as the editors here do of course not have any insight in procedural data, so we’d like to ask you to phone DKB directly. That way, the customer service can check the current status of the account opening. The telephone number is +49-30-12030000. The service hours are around the clock, 7 days a week. 🙂

Can I open an account if I made Anmeldung already but haven’t received confirmation from them yet? They said they would send it to me in 4-8 weeks, but I need an account now for my salary.
Another thing – I currently live in another address from my Anmeldung. Which address should I enter in application?
Thanks

Hello! You can apply for an account anytime – if it will be opened/accepted is a different question. As explained above, free of charge Giro accounts at German direct banks are only granted after a successful credit check. If one is still rather new to Germany, this sometimes can be a challenge – especially if one changes one’s address often. Frequent changes of address is not a favorable mark in the credit check.

State the address, under which you are registered and where you can receive mail. This has to be the same when you apply for the account. Later, once you are a customer, you can update your address yourself within the online banking and even state a separate address for your mail to be sent to. After all letters pertaining to the account opening have been sent, DKB does not send any more “regular” mail – until the card approaches its expiration date.

The site is great and hopefully you can help me too. I am a Greek citizen currently having an joint account with Commerzbank. Nevertheless the bank charges me maintenance fees of 35 euros per month which I find to be a lot. I am in Berlin for business and I will stay here till Wednesday. What would you recommend me to do and in which bank should I head to? Commdirect sounds easier but do you rate these banks lower than Commerzbank and db?

My first choice is DKB, and I know that many readers of our portal are quite happy with them as well.

But it is also clear that not everyone can get the account, because German direct banks perform a credit check before the account opening.

As a foreign citizen on a short business trip in Germany and without a German address or German credit history, an account without credit check is often a better choice – but for that one has to pay account fees (but 35 EUR monthly really is too much). With this online account it’s 9.90 EUR per month + a one-time setup fee. The card can be sent to Greece, and the legitimization is done via Deutsche Post. You could manage that until Wednesday.

An alternative is the opening of an account at a local branch. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t – that always depends a bit on the business direction of the bank. Good luck!

Just as it is not customary for South African banks to open an account with a credit line via internet, when die applicant’s residence is abroad, it’s not customary for German banks, either.

Like the bank has written to you, they see their target market in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. You can apply for an account, if you live in one of those three countries. Please keep in mind that it is customary for German direct banks to perform a credit check, which for you is free of charge. About 65% of the interested people pass these checks and get the account. All others have to look for a different provider.

Alternatively, there are accounts/cards with account fees like PayCenter or Viabuay. The Viabuy MasterCard can be applied for and issued completely, in case you have an address in Germany. In that case, the card can already be there, when you arrive.

First of all, the good news: with a place of residence in Switzerland, one can apply for the account opening no matter the nationality. German citizens can open the DKB account from anywhere in the world. Besides Germany, one can also get the account with a place of residence in Switzerland and Austria, because the bank regards the German-speaking area as extended business area. However, it does not advertise the free account outside Germany.

To get the account – it is a free current account with credit card and credit line after all – it requires proof of income and creditworthiness. Completely clear: withour income, the account cannot be opened. This does not make sense from the perspective of the bank.

Please apply for the account at a time in which you dispose of an income. Proof of it must only be provided in the rarest cases. If you live from your savings during the sabbatical, then this is your income.

I wish you good luck with the account opening and discovering the possibilities of bank and account!

I am an American citizen and I will be a visiting professor in Germany and I need to open an account at one of the local banks. I have contacted ING-DiBA and I was told that they do not offer a Girokonto to the foreigners. I will be in Germany for 5 month and I will be getting a regular salary from the university. Any suggestions about what I can do before arriving in Germany. Or should I wait until I will be there and start the process when I am already in the country?
Thank you,
Maria

I live in Germany, I have resident here. I am currently unemployed and get money from Jobcenter until I finish my language course. I tried opening the bank but it cancels my request when I am done with everything. Saying I don’t meet the requirements. What can I do? I want to open a DKB Bank cause I don’t have many ATM in my village. Is it still possible?

But one also needs to know that not every customer is compatible with every bank!

DKB is a bank that issues a real credit card, and for that a sufficient credit score and income is necessary. Who really wants to become a customer of this bank might have to first improve their credit score/income. Best of luck!

How long it takes DKB to send a card? I am planning to travel to another country in Asia (in 2 weeks), and a credit card will be helpful. I am not a German citizen but living here from past 3 years on student Visa. I also work as part-time researcher and never had a credit card before.

Currently there is an increased amount of applications at DKB, so that you actually should calculate a duration of about 14 days, until all letters, cards and PINs have arrived. It’s possible that you will not be able to use it for the upcoming trip, but only afterwards or for the next one => Best of luck, and here’s to hoping that it will work out on time!

Hi, I currently bank with Commerzbank but I am looking to change. I want to know the following – is there a method by which all existing direct debits paid through Commerzbank be automatically transferred to DKB? Can transfers be made online to other countries such as Spain, Ireland and England? If so is there a charge for such transfer? Finally, should we require a loan in the future, for example to purchase a car, can this be facilitated by DKB. Thank you in advance for your reply.

Actually, DKB offers pretty good loans. As a giro account customer you should not only be able to get financing more easily – since the bank knows you already – but you’ll also get an interest rate that is better by 0,25%!

Yes, that is correct. A bank always wants to know when opening an account, where the future customer actually lives. It should always be the officially registered address, since credit checks are also performed with this address. The first mail will be sent to this address as well (in order to check whether if the address really exists and one can receive mail there).

If you live in a sublease, please add your name on the mail box for those two weeks it might take.

As soon as you have access to the online banking, you can enter a different mail address (a c/o address as well) under “Service > Adresse ändern” (service > change address).

Hello,
I am somewhat confused by all this. What I want to do is open a German Bank account, to deposit and withdraw my own money. This sounds more like it is for opening a credit card account. I merely wish to be able to transfer funds. I will be apartment hunting in Leipzig, and will need to have a German bank account. I am a dual citizen and currently hold both American and German passports.

I say I am confused by all this, because in the US, all that is required to open a bank account is to make a deposit.

It might be so that other countries simply may allow themselves their own rules? 😉 Apart from that, for people outside the US there is no possibility to open a US giro account via the internet. Best of luck, and enjoy discovering life outside the States. 🙂

First of all, I’d like to congratulate you for a very helpful and detailed website on german banking!

I have been living in Germany for over 4 years now, and I am seriously considering applying for a DKB account, but I do have some questions which I’d like to see answered, before sending my application, if I may. So here it goes.

1. If I understand correctly we are now entitled to a virtual VISA card which we can use for getting interest,is that correct? Is that automatically given or do we have to apply for it?
2. Can we easily move money from that virtual card to the current account and vice versa within the homebanking? Same with the real VISA card? How long does each transfer take?
3. Is is true that widthdrawals are limited to a min. of 50eur?
4. I will make the DKB current account my main account (i.e. my wages will be monthly transferred). Does that mean the plafond of the visa card and the overdraft facility of the current account will automatically be increased to twice the amount of the wage after the first payment or do I have to request it?
5. On your personal experience, do you reckon a 97.05% SCHUFA scoring would be sufficient for admission?
6. Last but not the least, even though I have been here for 4 years my german is still very insufficient (English in work… you know :)). Do you reckon this to be a problem during the enrollment process? I read somewhere that they will call you to ensure about you german profficiency? What is the point of this and how could this affect the acceptance? Do they require other documents from my side, apart from their own bank history checking?

1) The virtual VISA card can be requested additionally as soon as the account is opened. It is called “DKB-VISA-Tagesgeld” (i.e. DKB-Visa-overnight/day-to-day-money).
2) The transfer can take a few hours, maximally one day
3) This applies to withdrawals at the ATM
4) The credit line can be a maximum of three times the monthly salary. If there is no automatic adjustment after the second payment, please request the increase manually via the online banking
5) The Schufa score is only a part of the credit assessment. But at this height it is already very good!
6) Basic knowledge in German is useful because the contract language is German, the online banking as well. Since you reside in Germany it is unlikely that you will get a call from the bank regarding the account opening. You will receive an e-mail.

Hello, I’m a dual USA/Italian citizen living in the USA (I was born in the USA and only got my Italian citizenship recently). In the future I may decide to live in Italy or elsewhere in the EU. But I would like to open a bank account in Germany now, since German banks are more stable than ones elsewhere in Europe, and because I do not want to keep all of my money in the USA. Is there a German bank that will let me open an account either from the USA or Italy? And which offers English support?

Hello. DKB would be just the right bank for such a plan, if the dual citizenship included German and one had at least a basic understanding of the German language.

In our Sundaymail we are going to inform about alternatives during the course of this year. That much in advance: German Banks are not too eager regarding customers from abroad – so one needs to find smart solutions.

I am a Canadian, working in Austria, Vienna .
As a consultant, all my fees since 1 year have been in local Austrian bank. I also work out of Dusseldorf a few times per month.
I would like to move my earning from the Austrian account to DKB.
Could you advise
a) if canadians working in Austria can open account at DKB.
b) Are there online foreign currency exchange rates provided with DKB ? and/or better rates than conventional banks?
c) I currently have home addresses both in Germany & Austria

– The first regarding the address: recently, I moved to my girlfriend in Germany. I did not make any registration tasks at the authorities yet. Do I have to make my new address “official” at the registration office in order to be able to apply for an account? Or would my name on the mailbox be sufficient?

– Second question regarding income: As I have quit my job in Ireland, I do not have an income. However, I have saved quite a lot of money in my Irish account, so would this be enough for the creditworthiness? I could make one or several bank transfers every month and look for a new job at the same time?

The name on the mailbox is important, so that the letters can arrive during the first days after account opening.

The provable place of residence in Germany is also important , because one is asking for the address during the legitimating procedure. This is stated on the backside of German ID-cards. At identification documents without place of residence stated, e.g. the Irish passport, one must be able to prove the address in another way. Often, the “Meldebescheinigung” (registration card) is queried, because this is easiest and safest.

Sometimes it is enough, if one states the address verbally (PostIdent-procedure) or through another document, like e.g. the electricity bill. Whether this is accepted or not, depends on the employee. The “Meldebescheinigung“ is 100 % safe!

Stating the address is important, because this affects the creditworthiness check. The address can be changed later in the online banking or one can create a separate shipping address. . The status “Ohne Beschäftigung” (without employment) is not a good point of time to apply for the account. In the end, it is an account with a true credit card. The banks asks for the monthly income at the account application, but not for the wealth.

If you are sufficiently wealthy to live from it, then you could enter “Sonstiges” (other) at the “Tätigkeit” (employment) and at “Aktuelles Nettoeinkommen pro Monat in Euro“ (current net income per month in Euros) the amount that you want to transfer from your foreign account to the DKB. The actual incoming money is not checked by the bank. However, if you have more than Euros 700 per month incoming transfers, then the premium conditions will remain also after one year ?

HI, I am very interested in opening an account and ready to do so. I live in Germany but I would not like to receive documents at home … is everything online? if so, I open immediately. If you need to send something, then any chance to use the company address?

Hi! In order to obtain a DKB bank account, you have to state your personal address, and this is where all the paperwork and the cards are sent to. Having those sent to a company address does unfortunately not work.

I am a Polish citizen and I have just moved to Germany, I have all the official papers: Meldebescheinigung, Steuer-ID, Rentenversicherungsnummer also Germany is my tax residence. I also have a job here, but I have no credit history (just started), and the automated evaluation process has rejected my application for a DKB personal account, is there any way to open an account at DKB at this point in time for me?

On the rejection notice re. your application you should see a link “Fragen zur automatischen Antragstellung” (questions regarding the automatic application). This leads you to the option of printing out your application, which you can then send to DKB by regular mail, where it will be checked again by an employee, which at the very least will give you the chance to learn the reason in case of another rejection.

One tipp: If the Schufa (the organization that “oversees” your credit history in Germany) does not have you (as a new resident in Germany) in their files yet, it might be a good idea to go to their website and try to obtain your own Schufa record. By doing that, even if it turns out they do not have sufficient information about you yet, your name and basic information will probably get into their data base as a first step for your official credit history in Germany. Best of luck!

Hi I’m a Swiss citizen who will move to Berlin in the next month from the UK. I’m keen to open up an account with DKB, but I don’t seem to be eligible at the moment.
Do you think that I have a chance if I manually submit my request? I have a signed contract of employment that I can provide as proof of moving. My main concern is that opening a bank account vs. finding an apartment seems to be a chicken and egg problem. You cannot do one without having the other. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Generally, it is not a chicken/egg-problem, because in Germany you can almost always transfer the rent per single transfer or standing order. You can do this from an account abroad. With TransferWise you can even do it accurately to the cent and with great conditions.

For a credit check at account opening, DKB requires the addresses of your residences during the recent two years. The current address needs to be in Germany, Austria or Switzerland – otherwise, an account opening does not make sense from the bank’s point of view, because it provides you with a free-of-charge credit card incl. a line of credit. They do not do this when your residence is abroad, because they do not grant credits abroad.

As a DKB customer, you get a lot of things free of charge – but that is not simply a nice gift 😉 – in order to be able to provide these services, DKB has to make money with their customers banking activities, e.g. the use of their card (the retailer pays payment fees) or the use of the line of credit.

With DKB you have chosen one of Germany’s best direct banks … the account opening is more difficult here due to the credit check. In order to be such a top bank, the bank needs to „pay attention“ – also in the interest of all their existing customers – whom they accept as new customers.

There are of course providers who do not perform a credit check. Here, opening an account is easy. Their business model is earning money via the account fees. Maybe this would be a viable interim option? Alternatively, you can simply wait until you have arrived in Berlin and have your residence certificate (Wohnsitzanmeldung).

I am a French citizen who’s frequently traveling to Germany. Bank cards given in France don’t seem to be working in Germany so often, so I would like to open an account for this purpose at the DKB, which seem to be a great bank from the feedback around on Internet.

Nothing says I can’t open an account from France in the AGB or on their website (there’s even France in the form to state up your address).
However when I contacted them for questions, they twice told me this:

That’s right: DKB see their target market in Germany and those contries, where German is the/an official language, i.e. Austria and Switzerland. Therefore, you can apply for a DKB account, if you live in one of those three countries, though of course you will still need to pass a credit check.

Is your residence permit unlimited? Otherwise, this might be a possible reason. Also, if you have not been in Germany for long yet, you might not have had the opportunity to establish a sufficient credit history. But these are only possibilities, we can of course not give you a more specific answer.

My guess is since as you mentioned I don’t have any credit history here (no Schufa record if I’m not mistaken), I receive this immediate rejection. I have tested it with permanent residency permit as well with no luck, hence credit history is a big deal here.

As a first step, it might be a good idea to check your SCHUFA score or – if you are not even in their files yet – to get in there. If you go to the SCHUFA website, there is the possibility to download a form (in several languages, with which you can ask for your current score: Link

Hello,
First of all, thank you for the information!
Secondly, I am an Israeli citizen, stay and soon working in Germany with a Visa. I want to open an account, but at the moment don’t have a German Tax ID number, only my Israeli one.
Can I input my Israeli Tax number now, and later on change it to the German one?

Understanding the German language is a requirement for an account opening at DKB. Like most German banks, they offer their services (customer support, internet banking, app) only in the German language.

I moved to Germany in August last year, sent an application for a DKB account in December and it got rejected. It also shows up in my SCHUFA as “Anfrage Kreditkonditionen”.
Can I try applying again now after half year? Or should I give up on DKB and look into comdirect and ING DiBa for a credit card?
I already have a Deutsche Bank account but for a credit card they want to charge me 10€ per month.

You can always try for an account opening, but you should state your address here in Germany, where you are sure you can receive mail during the next 2-3 weeks.

Maybe you are lucky. But if it does not work out, don’t be disappointed. DKB usually does not open accounts for tourists, because in their credit check, some important points are missing. In Germany, there are accounts with and without credit check. The best conditions, of course, you get from those banks with credit check, like DKB. With other providers, the services are not as good, and you have to pay a fee. See here.

Hey,
I want to open an account and make it as my second one , so should I put in the income field how much is my salary or how much I will transfer to this account ? for example if I put 1500 euro and I only transfer 700, will that be a problem in the future if I want to become an active customer !
In your Other article ” about how to open DKB account ” I saw in your step by step instructions in the job details that there is no Architecture field so should I check in “Baugewerbe” ?
Thanks!

Please state the total amount of your monthly income. This is important! The amount of money that actually will get to DKB after the account opening, is not important. It is not mandatory to have any money deposited on the account at all, but of course it makes sense, in order for you to use it. By the way, the free DKB giro account works very well as a secondary account.

Yes, that’s right: Please state “Baugewerbe”, that’s the most fitting! Enjoy your account, and the exploration of its possibilities!

I want to open a bank account in the EU to hold Euros (as protection against currency movements, and to use for trips to the Euro zone). I am an EU citizen, but I do not live in Germany. I am resident in the UK.

One can always try the application. But since the UK is not DKB‘s “targeted“ country, and since DKB also performs a credit check that is based on German circumstances, an account opening is not very likely. We are working on a solution for what you have in mind and will inform about this via our newsletter.

Hello, I am from Bulgaria and I will move to Berlin after two weeks, to work.
Can I open a DKB account while I am still in Bulgaria? (Bulgaria is in the European Union).
Or I will have to do it when I am in Berlin?
Thank you.